Location: Folsom 
Day & Time: Thursday 11:55-1:05 
Grade: 3rd-4th
Mentor: Molly Hightower
Email: mrs.mollyhightower@gmail.com 
 
In Botany and Nature Journaling, we will jump into nature with a new perspective!
It is my desire to inspire my students to look closer at the world around us and find each student's artistic expression. Encouraging critical thinking and strong skills in observation and note taking. 
 
For botany we will be observing different plants in our class and looking up close at them under a microscope. Learning how plants grow and discussing why it's a useful skill to identify them. We will ask questions like, what is photosynthesis, and why is one plant thriving and another struggling? What makes a bug good or bad in a garden? How might we get rid of "bad bugs" in an environmentally creative way, such as by looking at other plants and their symbiotic uses to one another? 
 
With an emphasis on nature journaling, I will challenge my students to ponder things with fresh eyes. As a class we will discuss what we explore individually throughout the week and hypothesize on those observations. We will learn from our detailed observations and not just memorize facts. I want to inspire curiosity and instill joy in this process. For inspiration, I will bring in plants, rocks, and various animals like rabbits or birds for further investigation.
 
Each student will be creating a personal journal with their notes and observations that will look different than their peers’ and will be a masterpiece of all their own. As they learn to take notes on what they see, we will use watercolors and practice sketching techniques to capture their observations.
 
In summary, our class will learn Botany, Creative Writing, Art, and lots of Science through the process of journaling our examinations.
 
There will be a strong emphasis on encouraging one's peers in class, strengthening not only independent skills but also building others up. I value the habit of slowing down, being in nature, and noting the world around us. There are endless lessons to unlock in this practice, and it holds great value in calming and focusing young, growing minds. 
 
I look forward to getting to know each of my students and finding ways to help them excel in their strengths and build confidence in the areas they find more challenging!
 
Joyfully, Mrs. Molly Hightower

All classes are full-year classes. Students enrolled in a Fall Semester class will automatically enroll for the Spring Semester in December to ensure their place in the class. Pricing is per semester.